Dr. Brenda Rivera-García

Americares Senior Director of Latin America and Caribbean Programs Dr. Brenda Rivera-García is responsible for designing, implementing and directing innovative health programs that increase access to medicine, medical supplies and health services for low-income populations in Latin America and the Caribbean. 

Dr. Rivera brings to Americares more than 25 years of experience in public health and medicine. She joined Americares in 2019 as director of its Hurricane Maria Recovery Program in Puerto Rico, where she was responsible for managing the organization’s Puerto Rico-based recovery operations, implementing programs that met survivors’ long-term health needs and directing initiatives that strengthened health systems in vulnerable communities.

Since taking on the role of senior director of Latin America and Caribbean Programs, Dr. Rivera has overseen the organization’s recovery efforts after Hurricane Fiona in 2022 and the 2021 Haiti earthquake. She also supported multi-country projects to strengthen mental health resiliency in response to climate change.

Prior to joining Americares, Dr. Rivera worked for the Puerto Rico Department of Health as State Epidemiologist from 2013 to 2016 and served as its Zika Response Incident Manager. Additionally, she served as Guest Researcher at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dengue Branch. 

Dr. Rivera also has extensive academic experience, having served as an associate professor at the Ponce School of Medicine and as a professor in the Veterinary Technology Program at the University of Puerto Rico School of Health Professions. 

A leader in the public health field, Dr. Rivera currently serves on the Puerto Rico governor’s Advisory Group on Animal Protection and Safety.

She earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Iowa State University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Iowa. She also completed fellowships in Applied Field Epidemiology and Pediatric Environmental Health at the University of Puerto Rico.